History of Homeopathy

Once upon a time
Homeopathy began when a doctor by the name of Samuel Christian Hahnemann (1755-1843) gave up his practice as a result of what he considered barbaric practice of his day.

Hahnemann received his M.D. in 1779 but soon lost faith in the methods he had learned. Described as a person with high intellect and special ability to learn languages, he found the methods dangerous and instead of administering drugs to his patients, he always recommended good diet and exercise. Finally, this religious man left his practice and began a new career as a translator.

When his daughter caught a severe illness, Samuel was sent searching for a better remedy to treat her disease. One day, when he was translating a German text on pharmacology (Materia Medica), he began to question the author’s description of the action of Peruvian bark (also cinchona or quinine) to treat malaria. He decided that to see if the description is correct is by taking the drug himself. To his surprised, he found that the drug actually created the same symptoms that it was supposed to cure! From this he speculated that the first law of cure was in fact a law of similar: "Let likes be treated by likes”.

History of Homeopathy - He went further
He went out to disapprove his theory by testing more drugs. The result was the rediscovery of foundation of homeopathy, an old concept that can be traced back to the 5th century. The studies showed him that the production of symptoms is actually the body’s way of combating illnesses. Hence, dilute substance that stimulated the symptoms of illnesses in healthy person could be used to fight illness in someone who was sick.

The history of Homeopathy dates formally from 1810, the year he published Organon of Medicine, considered his most important work. By 1821 he became a teacher of homeopathy in University of Leipzig and published many writings regarding the field. Homeopathy became popular only in 1831 when Europe was struck by a widespread cholera epidemic. During the time Hahnemann recommended camphor to fight the epidemic. As a result many people were cured and some became a homeopathy convert themselves.

History of Homeopathy - Fierce opposition
Conventional doctors opposed homeopathy fiercely, championed largely by American Medical Association (AMA). As early as in 1860s, doctors who consulted with homeopaths were charged. During Civil War, AMA was able to prevent homeopaths from enlisting in the Medical Corps. In 1878 a Connecticut doctor was expelled from his county medical society for consulting with his wife who happened to practice homeopathy. These were some of the example how fiercely the conventional doctors opposed homeopathy treatment. This ruthlessness was successful and the homeopathy world was divided and many of homeopaths turned into conventional doctors leaving only a handful of homeopaths who use Hahnemann's way of treatment.

What about today ?
As recently as a century ago, Samuel Christian Hahnemann was considered one of the greatest heroes of modern medicine. Although hospitals all over the world still carry his name and there is a statue of him in Washington, very few modern doctors can tell us why he is so famous.

Nowadays, homeopathy is still considered one of the most controversial form of alternative treatment (the same happened to chiropractic, read Chiropractic History). Because of lack of acceptable clinical trials, conventional doctors have been condemning Homeopathic Products as a form of scam, neglecting the success of homeopathy during widespread cholera epidemic in Europe.

Homeopathy is having a modest resurgence. The sad part is only few practiced the method taught by Hahnemann. Some gave a few medicine at once (against the founder's principle to use no more than one medicine at one time) and being sold at supermarkets as if these are vitamin supplements.

The use
In France, one third of the population use homeopathic medicines and 39% of French family physicians prescribe them. It is also estimated that 20% of all German physicians prescribe homeopathic medicines and nearly half of Dutch physicians consider homeopathy as an effective form of medicine. India has adopted it well, with more homeopaths in India than any other country. It also flourishes in Greece, Eastern Europe and Sri Lanka.

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George Washington Death
To understand Hahnemann frustration with heroic medicine practiced during his day, read the account of the death of George Washington.

National Council Against Health Fraud - position on homeopathy

It is only fair if we provide the views of parties opposing homeopathy. This is what NCAHF has to say about their opposition to Homeopathic Products.

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